Clint Bowyer earned some jeers after he was introduced Thursday during the Chase for the Sprint Cup Contenders Live in Chicago. / David Banks, NASCAR via Getty Images

by Nate Ryan, USA TODAY Sports

by Nate Ryan, USA TODAY Sports

CHICAGO - A dozen NASCAR drivers donned stifling firesuits and sweated through a few hours of news media rounds under the blazing sun at Navy Pier on Thursday.

The reason was to snap a new class photo (replete with sponsor logos) for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and the picture remains blurry as the 10-race title playoff begins its 10th edition under a dark cloud of disarray.

"I don't know if we're going to be taking another picture in a day or two," five-time champion Jimmie Johnson, Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, said with a laugh. "I'm sure Jeff's hoping there's a favorable ruling for him to be in the Chase. Unfortunately, I think he's going be disappointed."

NASCAR's premier series will hit the track for the Chase's opening practice and qualifying Friday at Chicagoland Speedway with the sanctioning body trying to sort out suspicious radio traffic in Saturday night's race at Richmond International Raceway and its stars seeking clarity on what qualifies as unlawful etiquette after an unfolding scandal that has rocked the sport.

Logano pleaded ignorance of the communication Thursday, but the Penske Racing driver also downplayed the controversy because he would have finished 10th in the standings if he hadn't gained a position on Gilliland.

"That is stuff that happens week in and week out," Logano said. "They are up there trying to work deals out, 'Hey, help me out here, I will help you out here; let's work together.' If we didn't pass (Gilliland), we were still 10th in points, so it has no change in the outcome. I don't look at it as being a big deal. I am not concerned about it."

He did benefit, though, from passing Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers, both of whose pit stops during the closing laps helped Logano move into the 10th and final Chase-eligible spot in points past Gordon and handed the final wild-card slot to Martin Truex Jr., a teammate of Bowyer and Vickers. NASCAR docked the trio of MWR drivers 50 points Monday and restored Newman to the wild card. But Logano kept his top-10 position over Gordon - and three bonus points for his win at Michigan International Speedway, which he wouldn't have gotten as a wild card.

Logano defend his résumé. "We got one win and eight top-fives and 14 top-10 finishes," he said. "I don't feel bad about being in the Chase at all. We deserve to be in it. We are going to take those bonus points."

Hearing it from fans

Some fans didn't seem to agree Thursday, as Logano drew a smattering of boos while virtually all Chase drivers, including brothers Kyle and Kurt Busch, roundly were applauded at a Q&A event.

When a question was asked of Bowyer about what people were expecting from him in the Chase, a fan yelled out, "To spin out!"

NASCAR President Mike Helton opened the forum by telling the crowd officials were "still looking at some other things, (and) we'll announce if any action comes from us."

There was debate over what action might be taken in future instances of team orders, a concept unique to motor sports in which drivers are directed to give up spots if it helps a teammate score more points.

"That was a heavy impact, and I think that sent shock waves through the sport," Earnhardt said. "Once we get a little further past this and realize how big a deal that was for Truex to be moved out, how big for his team, organization and sponsors. It's going to be profound. That's going to deter a lot of people from trying to manipulate a race going forward like that. I think those spotters and crew chiefs and some drivers don't realize in the heat of the moment how accessible all this information is.

"That's another thing that I think will be a deterrent. No matter how much you think you can camouflage this through smoke and mirrors, the media or fans can connect the dots."

Seeking clarification

Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards talked Wednesday night with NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton to glean a better understanding of what might be considered fair.

"I think we will just see another evolution in the officiating of the sport," Edwards said. "I think it will take, at the very least, a few weeks, and I think it could be as late as next year before everyone really understands the implications of what we saw."

Indicative of the changing climate, MWR essentially was punished because it directed Vickers to pit under green. In the Richmond cutoff race in 2012, Joe Gibbs Racing wasn't penalized for having Denny Hamlin pit under green to provide a point to teammate Kyle Busch, who missed the Chase.

Teammates often allow each other to lead laps, and lapped drivers often will show courtesy by moving for faster cars.

"There are multiple layers to this thing," Roush Fenway's Greg Biffle said. "It isn't like price fixing. In certain situations, you are asking a lapped car to cut you a break because some racetracks are really hard to pass. There is nothing wrong with that."

Said Johnson, "That's the delicate part NASCAR is obviously trying to deal with. Letting someone lead a lap has been a no-brainer. It hasn't offended anyone over the years. ... I've seen the term 'Pandora's box' quite a few times, and I agree it's opened it up."

Now everyone waits to see how NASCAR closes its Richmond case. Johnson doesn't expect sanctions for Penske because the most damning chatter is on Gilliland's channel, not Logano's. "If you're bold enough to make the direct admission, you'll pay the price," Johnson said. "The vagueness is what allows wiggle room for (Penske)."